about the freedom he and Jason had, making it sound as if raising themselves had been a lark. And he had refused to admit to the embarrassment of having a mother who was the town “lightskirt.”
God, it had been hard. Luckily, he’d had Jason. But it wasn’t the same. Children needed an adult to look up to, someone they respected and who cared about them.
These kids had Carlie, but he wanted to help, too, wanted to make a difference.
“All right, Tyler,” she said, breaking into his thoughts. “Enough moping over things you can’t change. I hereby challenge you to a little one-on-one. The first to make ten baskets wins.”
His grin was slow and filled with wicked delight. He put his hands on his hips, watching Carlie as she continued to expertly dribble the ball. “What are we betting?”
“That I can beat the pants off you.” Her tone was smug and taunting. And then she understood exactly what she’d said. She flushed scarlet.
“My pants? Well, Ms. McDaniels! It wasn’t enough to ogle me without my shirt? You want to strip me of all modesty?”
“That would be impossible.” Her face was still hot, but she began dribbling the ball again. “You don’t possess any modesty and probably never have.”
His grin widened. He approached her slowly, his eyes never leaving her face. “I’m ready when you are, sweetheart. But the stakes have to be worthwhile. Say...dinner? At the winner’s choice of place?”
Carlie gave him a confident smile. She did a fancy little feat of bouncing the ball behind her back, then between her knees, before shouting suddenly, “You’re on.” She raced down the court, scoring the first basket before he realized the game had started.
“Oh, ho! Getting tricky on me, huh? I like a woman who can take me by surprise.” Carlie faltered at his words, nearly losing the ball. Tyler lunged, staying right on her, his body looming over hers, his arms outreaching her, his legs able to cover the same amount of ground more quickly. Carlie claimed it was an even match.
She was good, real good. She dunked the ball three times before he had a chance to score. Then he got serious. But all the while, he grinned. He felt better than he had in a very long time.
They were both sweaty by the time the score was evened up, eight all. Tendrils of hair had come loose around Carlie’s face, sticking to her forehead and flushed cheeks. She looked done in, but still very determined to win. And she was laughing, obviously enjoying herself.
Then Tyler accidentally hit her. He made to jump for the ball, and his elbow smacked against her temple. Stumbling backward, she landed on her butt, her glasses slipping off her nose and dropping into her lap.
Tyler was horrified. “Oh, God, Carlie. I’m sorry!” He knelt beside her, taking her face in his hands, staring into her dazed eyes. Wide, hazel eyes. “Are you all right?”
She managed a slight, shaky smile. “I’m okay.” Then she looked up at him.
His eyes locked with hers, and his fingers moved an almost imperceptible amount. As he studied her, something seemed familiar, some memory tickling at the back of his mind. Those wide eyes....
Then Carlie broke the contact, pulling away from his hands.
“You knew you were about to lose, right? That’s why you belted me?” Her voice shook, and she tried another grin, but it was a weak attempt. Tyler wondered how badly she was hurt.
He was too busy trying to analyze the situation to answer right away. Carlie stuck her glasses firmly back on her nose, then called, “Yoo-hoo? Anybody home? Tyler?”
Finally, he shook his head, chasing away the errant confusion. “Sorry. Here, let me help you up.”
“I’m fine, Tyler. I don’t need any help.” He helped, anyway, giving Carlie no choice in the matter.
He turned her, holding her chin in his palm. “Let me look at you. I think you have a lump coming up already.”
She jerked away. “I told you, I’m fine. Quit fussing.”
Tyler propped his hands on his hips, worried and filled with guilt. “I’ll concede the game. Dinner is on me.”
Carlie looked down at herself, then shook her head. “Dressed like this? I don’t think so, but thanks, anyway.”
Her refusal didn’t surprise him, but it did annoy him. “You have to eat. It’s been a long day.”
“I have stew in the Crock-Pot at home. You’re free and clear.”
He picked up his shirt, drying the sweat from his chest and arms with it. He didn’t particularly want to be free. “Stew sounds good. We bachelors don’t get a home-cooked meal all that often.”
Carlie raised her eyes to his, a look of disbelief mirroring her thoughts.
As hints went, his was blatantly clear and he held his breath while waiting to see what she would say.
“You are wrangling me for an invite?”
He shrugged, but the movement felt stiff. “I figure anyone who can play basketball as good as you, must surely be able to cook, too.”
“Your logic escapes me, and besides, I don’t think I made enough.”
It was almost as if she was challenging him. He wanted to spend more time with her, but she was determined to put him off. He didn’t like it, not one little bit. They would spend the evening together, despite the woman’s ridiculous reservations. “I’ll stop at the bakery and pick up some sourdough bread to go with it.”
Carlie narrowed her eyes at his persistence. “Don’t you have some female somewhere waiting for you to call and check in?”
“Nope. And I’m hopelessly lonely. Be kind, Carlie. Take me home.”
“Like a stray dog? If I feed you once, will I have trouble getting rid of you?”
He managed to look hurt. Shrugging his bare shoulders, he said, “Never mind. I didn’t mean to intrude. I just thought since we were both going home alone, we could share a meal. I had fun today. I don’t get to goof off all that often anymore, regardless of what you think.”
Carlie froze. He knew she wouldn’t be able to handle hurting his feelings. Carlie was, despite her efforts to prove otherwise, a real softie. He watched her out of the corner of his eye and knew the moment she relented.
“I had fun, too, Tyler. And I suppose it would be nice to have someone to chat with over dinner.”
Tyler raised his head, all remnants of self-pity disappearing. “Terrific! I knew you could be reasonable.”
“Why, you big fraud!”
He simply laughed, not the least bit concerned with his deception. “Go get your things. I’ll follow you to your house.”
He watched Carlie stomp away. He could see her silently fuming. Damn, but he enjoyed her company. She was prickly, independent, determined to do things her
